Sabinsa, a pioneer in nutraceutical and cosmeceutical industry, has strengthened its market position in Canada with the grant of three new patents. The company has also received an additional Natural Products Number (NPN) issued by Health Canada, bringing their total number of products with health claims in Canada to 37.

Patent CA2976689 is for an invention for a water-soluble form of Curcumin, which Sabinsa sells under the brand named uC3 Clear®. The patent discloses a method of solubilizing curcuminoids using polyvinyl pyrrolidone and sodium bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate. The aqueous solubility of curcumin/curcuminoid mixtures is enhanced to more than 10%-15% w/v in water. Sabinsa developed this product to solve solubility challenges with use of curcumin in functional beverages.

Another new patent, CA2979287, is for the anti-cancer properties of a compound - (E)-4-(3’, 4’-Dimethoxyphenyl) but-1,3-diene (DMBPD), isolated from Thai ginger (Zingiber cassumunar). The patent discloses a concentration-dependent in-vitro anti-tumorigenic activity of (E)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl) butadiene on cancer cells (pancreatic, prostate and ovarian carcinoma). Further, the unique ability of DMPBD to cause significant decrease in the expression of cell adhesion molecules (P-selectin, E-selectin and L-selectin) as evaluated by flow cytometric studies on pancreatic carcinoma cells, points to the molecule’s specific function as an anti-metastatic agent. This invention has also been granted patents in the USA (US 9,833,422, US 9,913,809), Australia (AU2016385393), Russia (RU2694053), New Zealand (NZ735027) and Japan (JP 6584526).

The third new patent granted in Canada (CA2975170) is on the use of OLEPENT® cosmetic peptides in maintaining water hydration by increasing the expression of a water channel protein called aquaporin 5 (AQP5). The patent describes the increase in expression of genes and associated proteins for improving skin barrier function in hydration deficient human skin, using OLEPENT®. The idea of using peptides for cosmetic applications stems from the fact that the body has naturally occurring peptides that are instrumental in stimulating the healing process and controlling the signs of skin ageing. One such peptide is the C-terminal fragment of collagen 1, which constitutes the peptide Lys-Thr-Thr-Lys-Ser and can stimulate the synthesis of collagen. Sabinsa’s R&D scientists linked this peptide with oleanolic acid, which has beneficial pro-aging effects. It showed significantly better pro-aging properties like elastase inhibition and collagenase inhibition, than the individual ingredients, making it a promising combination.

Sabinsa also attained an NPN for its uC3 CLEAR composition for the Canadian Natural Health Products market with these claims:

  • Provides antioxidants for maintenance of good health
  • Used in herbal medicine to help relieve joint inflammation

“Our commitment to research and development is continuing to bring innovations that consumers can soon enjoy,” said Sabinsa Founder and Chairman Dr. Muhammed Majeed. “These patents provide the added assurance that low quality copycats won’t easily disrupt the marketplace, which protects our customers.”